'Hitman' Olyphant fine to look at, but loses menace when he opens his mouth

Nov. 18, 2007

Written by

Film Facts

MPAA ratingR for graphic violence, nudity and sexual situations

Length100 minutes

Where playingCentury Theaters, Galaxy, Minden

DirectorXavier Gens

Critical ratingJJ1/2

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The trouble with snuffing an assassin is that he knows all the tricks of the trade. Therefore, according to the standard movie premise, he will always be one step ahead. That was true in "Assassins" (1995), remained so in 2005's "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and was the foundation of each Jason Bourne film.

It's no surprise then that director Xavier Gens leans on this premise for "Hitman," an over-the-top action flick about a top-flight assassin (Timothy Olyphant) who finds himself targeted by a former client. The character, known only as No. 47, is the best at his game, which we learn by watching him decimate countless targets -- including other assassins -- without breaking a sweat.

When he checks into a hotel room, he has an exit strategy, and when he decides to kill, he does so without difficulty or remorse. Forty-Seven is sent into turmoil, however, when he chooses not only to save his own skin but to protect a young woman named Nika (Olga Kurylenko), who is also under fire. Developing such an attachment is against the hitman code which is, of course, why it happens in every film in the genre.

Obviously, "Hitman" doesn't score points for originality, and it actually loses some for dialogue. The exchanges between 47 and Nika were designed to be snappy and sexy, like the jabs between Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in "To Catch a Thief," but their conversations are so poorly written it's ridiculous.

Thankfully, the dialogue is better elsewhere, if only because there's little to say. I call movies like "Hitman" "action porn" because the plotting does little but carry characters from one combat sequence to the next. That's not the sign of great cinema, but there is a place for such product, and when it comes to action, "Hitman" is solid.

Olyphant engages in shootouts, a sword duel, hand-to-hand combat, and a clever escape or two. It's all very entertaining to watch, and Olyphant gets credit for handing the physical aspects of his role beautifully.

When one gets beyond the action, however, things unravel. For starters, there's something about Olyphant that makes it tough to view him as a stone-faced killer.

He's certainly an impressive physical specimen, but no matter what he's doing Olyphant seems to be winking at the audience. This was a problem when he played the baddie in "Live Free or Die Hard" and it's a bigger problem here.

Despite the flaws in character and dialogue, Gens gave "Hitman" a striking look, and he moves the story with an intensity that viewers should appreciate €» even if they aren't completely on board. Bottom line: It's an enjoyable adventure film, as long as one doesn't think too hard about it. Do that, and you'll be just like a hitman under fire: one step ahead.

Forrest Hartman writes about film for the Reno Gazette-Journal. Send your movie questions to askforrest(at)rgj.com. To read more of his articles, visit www.ForrestHartman.com and www.rgj.com/movies. If you write in with a question, please tell us your location. Also, check out Hartman's blog at www.rgj.com/blogs/film.